Woman gets prison time after admitting to role in Worcester slaying

A city woman was sentenced to state prison today after pleading guilty to being an accessory, after the fact, to murder.

Kerry Nderitu, 42, formerly of 37 Winfield St., was charged in connection with the Dec. 31, 2011, stabbing death of 51-year-old Charley Weir in Mr. Weir's second-floor apartment at 28 Merrick St. An autopsy determined that Mr. Weir met his death as a result of sharp force injuries of the chest and neck.

Joseph Naveja, 35, the man alleged to have inflicted the fatal wounds during an argument and to have then stolen Mr. Weir's wallet, is awaiting trial on murder and armed robbery charges.

Ms. Nderitu was sentenced to 2 years to 2 years and a day in state prison, with 3 years of probation to follow, after pleading guilty today in Worcester Superior Court to two counts of being an accessory, after the fact, to murder and a single count of misleading police, prosecutors or a grand jury.

Assistant District Attorney Sarah Richardson told Judge Janet Kenton-Walker that Ms. Nderitu, who was not present when Mr. Weir was killed, was accused of washing Mr. Naveja's bloody clothing and sneakers after the slaying and of providing a false alibi for him when she was questioned by police.

The prosecutor said a witness testified before the grand jury that Mr. Naveja returned to the apartment of Ms. Nderitu, where he had been staying, after the slaying and that Ms. Nderitu took his bloodied clothing and sneakers to Leicester and washed them.

Ms. Richardson said Mr. Weir's DNA was found on the sneakers, even though they had been laundered.

The assistant district attorney recommended that Ms. Nderitu, a divorced mother of five, be sentenced to 6 to 7 years in state prison with 3 years of probation to begin upon her release.

Ms. Nderitu's lawyer, Tom G. Vukmirovits, asked the judge to impose a sentence of 1 year to 1 year and a day with probation to follow.

Mr. Vukmirovits said his client relapsed into drug use after entering into a relationship with Mr. Naveja and that her substance abuse may have affected her judgment at the time of her offenses. He said Ms. Nderitu had a “very minimal” criminal record.

Mr.Weir's sister-in-law, Ines Rachel Weir, said in an impact statement that Mr.Weir's slaying had caused his family great pain. She told Ms. Nderitu she hoped she would learn from her mistakes and “have a better life in the future.”

As conditions of probation, Ms. Nderitu was ordered to undergo a substance abuse evaluation and any related treatment deemed appropriate by the court and to remain drug- and alcohol-free.

Ms. Nderitu was given credit for time served awaiting trial since her Jan. 4, 2012, arrest.